Kanishka I

First Published: January 9, 2012 | Last Updated:November 17, 2015

Kanishka-I was the most power ruler of the Kushana Empire and is known for his military prowess. His main capital was Purushpura (Peshawar) and regional capitals were Taxila (Pakistan) , Begram (Afghanistan) and Mathura (India).

His date of accession is disputed. However, most sources agree that Kanishka was the founder of the Shaka Era of AD 78.

This has been mentioned as Saka kala or Saka Nripa kala, probably because he was thought to be a Shaka.

Under Kanishka, Kushana Empire reached its climax and it extended from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan to Mathura and Kashmir.

As per the Tibetan Sources, Kanishka is considered to have conflicted with the Pataliputra and Saket and had taken Aśvaghosa, the Buddhist Monk to Purushpura.

A city kanishkpur in Kashmir is also connected to Kanishka.

Kanishka conflicted with Chinese general of King Han Ho-ti, the emperor of Han Dynasty and defeated him in second attempt.

He is also known to have subjugated the rulers of Khotan, Yarkand etc. and is considered to have established a great kingdom only after the Mauryas in India.

He was a patron of Buddhism and convened the 4th Buddhist council in the Kundalvana of Kashmir (or may be in Jalandhar) in 78 AD.

This council was headed by Vasumitra and it marked the collection of Buddhist texts and engraving of the commentaries on Copper sheets.

Some scholars are of the view that the Abhidhama Mahavishasa was prepared in the 4th Buddhist council.

Some of the scholars in the Court of Kanishka were Parsva, Vasumitra, Asvaghosa, Nagarjuna, Charaka and Mathara.

Charaka has been called the Court Physician of Kanishka, though it is very much disputed.

Sushruta who wrote Sushruta Samhita has also been connected to Kanishka.

It was Kanishka’s time when Buddhism got divided between the Hinayana and Mahayana.